Amnesty slams Kuje Chairman over alleged threat to non-APC voters

Rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, has criticised the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over remarks allegedly threatening residents who refuse to support or vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The condemnation followed the circulation of a video in which Shekwolo was heard declaring that residents of the council must either support the APC or leave the area.

The chairman reportedly insisted that he would not tolerate opposition to the ruling party or President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting, Amnesty International described the statement as a direct attack on citizens’ fundamental rights, warning that no Nigerian should be forced to support a political party as a condition for living in any part of the country.

The rights group said: “Authoritatively saying those who will not vote for the APC must leave the Kuje Area Council is a call to violence and direct attack on freedom of association and liberty of persons.”

Amnesty further urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene immediately and prevent any attempt to intimidate residents over their political choices. The organisation maintained that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to freely associate with any political party without fear of threats or persecution.

The group also described Shekwolo as “a danger to society” and called for him to be held accountable for remarks it said could endanger lives and undermine democratic freedoms